Both Dogs Transported to Emergency Clinic for Care
MONDAY, MARCH 24, 2020 – A Riverside County Animal Services officer seized two neglected dogs Saturday night (March 21) and rushed them to an emergency, 24-hours veterinary clinic. Officer Sean Fazio rescued the dogs from a shed at a property on Bunche Place in Riverside’s Eastside neighborhood.
A call from the Riverside Police Department initiated the call for service after a dispatcher received a complaint about the two dogs being locked in a shed and were yelping. The house on Bunche Place had been separated into two dwellings and the dogs are owned by a renter or renters. The shed was secured with a lock and the animal control officer called his supervisor for permission to cut the lock.
“It sounded as if the dogs were in distress and possibly in pain,” Officer Fazio said.
After cutting the lock, the officer discovered two neglected dogs in crates. One of the crates was stacked atop the other crate and both dogs exhibited evidence that they had been severely neglected for an extended period. Neither dog had any food or water.
Both dogs are now at the Western Riverside County/City Animal Shelter in Jurupa Valley. One, a 2-year-old, female terrier, mix, is faring better than the other. That second dog, a 6-year-old male pit bull mix, remains in close observation in the shelter’s veterinary treatment area.
Animal Services is following up on the investigation today, said Dr. Allan Drusys, Animal Services’ director and the county’s chief veterinarian.
“Although we all know we’re dealing with a serious health crisis with the COVID-19 pandemic, I am extremely proud that our officers are continuing their cruelty investigations and protecting pets. We have been identified as essential employees during this coronavirus era and this incident illustrates the essential need we perform to the abused and neglected pets in our communities.”
Dr. Drusys said he appreciated the Riverside Police Department’s assistance in this incident. “As we know, local law enforcement officers and other first responders and health-care professionals are still providing valuable services to our residents during the pandemic,” he said.
Valuable information for Riverside County residents can be found on a special link on the website for the Riverside University Health System (Department of Public Health): https://www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus
